Sue-Lisa Chin

Lab #5
Date: January 16, 2023
Title: Effect of temperature on reaction rate
Topic: Rates of reaction
Skill(s) Assessed: PD
Problem Statement: A hair-dresser claims that when she stores hydrogen peroxide on the
shelf it loses its bleaching properties faster than when she stores it in a cooler. She wants to
know the extent to which her claim is true. Suggest a suitable hypothesis to test her claim and
devise a practical means of testing it.
Hypothesis: The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide occurs faster at room temperature
when compared to a lower temperature.
Aim: To investigate the rate of reaction of hydrogen peroxide with respect to temperature by
reacting it with an oxidizing agent.
Apparatus/Materials: Hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, 2 side arm boiling
tubes, gas syringe, thermometer, 25 ml beaker, 2 25ml measuring cylinders, retort stand and
clamp
Diagram:
Variables:
Manipulating variable – Temperature of solution.
Responding variable- Volume of oxygen gas produced.
Control variable- Volume of hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate, exposure of
the experiment to UV light

Procedure:
1. Gather all apparatus and material.
2. Measure 10 ml H2O2 and KMnO4 using the measuring cylinder.
3. Pour 10 ml H2O2 into a boiling tube and attach the boiling tube to the retort stand.
4. Add 10 ml KMnO4 to H2O2 in the boiling tube and quickly attach a gas syringe and
thermometer.
5. Record volume of oxygen produced every 30 seconds for a total time of 180 seconds.
Record values using the table provided.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 using H2O2 in an ice bath.
7. Expose both experiments to the same intensity of UV light.
8. Record all observations.

Expected Results:
It is expected that both reactions will produce oxygen gas which can then be measured which
will allow a comparison of the volumes produced.
Data To be Collected:

Room temperature Ice bath

Time Volume of oxygen gas Temperature Volume of oxygen gas Temperature

(s) produced (ml) (°C) produced (ml) (°C)

30

60

90

120

150

180

Treatment of Results:

If the gradient of the graph of the reaction at

room temperature is steeper than the
reaction in the ice bath then the hypothesis is
valid, otherwise it is not. It is expected that
the decomposition of H2O2 at room
temperature will produce a steeper gradient
because at room temperature it decomposes
faster into water and oxygen. Cool
temperatures slow down its decomposition
hence, its gradient will be less steep.

Possible Sources of Error:

 Not attaching the gas syringe properly to
the boiling tube may cause oxygen gas to escape to the environment which
would produce inaccurate results.
  The thermometer not being immersed in the solution or touching the bottom of the
boiling tube may cause inaccurate readings to be taken which will affect the data
interpretation process.

Precautions:
Ensure that:
 The thermometer is fully immersed in the solution and that it is held by the tip when
taking readings.
 The gas syringe is attached properly to the boiling tube to prevent gas from escaping
to the environment.

Assumptions:
It is assumed that:
 The potassium iodide is not expired
 Both experiments have the same exposure to UV light.